Coin-freed prepayment mechanism.



. W. HAMILTON, COIN FREED PREPAYMENT MECHANISM. APPLIGATION FILED JUNE21, 1909.

Patented Aug. 2, 34.910.

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W. HAMILTON. COIN PREED PREPAYMENT MECHANISM.

APPLIUTION FILED JUNE 21, 1909. 965,89 Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

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HAMILTON. FRBED PREPAYMENT MEGHANSM.

APPLIGATOH FLED JUNE 2l, 1909. a

Patented Aug. 2, i910.

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W. HAMILTON. COIN PRBED PREPAYMENT MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 190D. Q g Fatend Aug. 2, w10.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

WILLIAM HAMILTON, OFiHOLLINWUOD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO FERRANTI LIMITED IOF HOLLINWOOD, ENGLAND.

COIN-FRED PREPAYMENT MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed November 4, 1907, Serial No. 400,597.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

1909. Serial No. 503,434.

To all, whom it muy concern.'

Be it known thatv I, lViLLrAu HAMILTON, a subject ot the King ot' Great-Britain and ireland, and residing at l'lollinwood.I in the county ofLancaster', England, have invented certain new. and useful Improvementsin and Relating to Coin-Freed Prepayment iechanism, of which thefollowing is ay specification.

The present application is a divisional from my prior patent applicationNo. 400,597, filed A,\'oven'iber 4 190i.

This invention relates to Coin-freed prepayment mechanism and isespecially applitable'to such mechanisms as are used in conjunction withand electricity meters.

This invention consists broadly in a coin freed prepayment mechanism inwhich means are provided for reducing the force required to retain thecontrolling mechanism in its operative position or-release it therefrom.

This invention consists more specifically in a coin-freed prepaymentmechanism tor meters in which a train of gearing is interposed betweenthe release and fluid control gears vwhereby a substantial reduction isett'ected in the force required to release. the control gear or retainit in the operative position.

l'tei'erring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate theinvention and form part of the specieation, Figure 1 shows a frontelevation of a meter provided with prepayment mechanism according to myinvention, Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the view shown in Fig. lwith the meter portion removed, Fig. 3 is an elevation of theprepaymentmechanism with the front plate removed. Figs. 4,- and 5 are detail viewsof the mechanism showing the switch in the open and closed positionsrespectively. Fig. t3 is a part plan view showing the diii'ereutialgearing. Fig and 8 are detail views ot' the coin re ..iver.

in carrying the invention into e'ect according to one form and asapplied by way ol example to an electricity meter, a coin sha'i't, (l,Figs. 2 and 3, is rotatably mounted in a frame composed of front andback plates, and e, respectively, assembled in any suitable manner;this: frame is preterably n'iounted on the structure, d, which carriesthe meter. To the coin shaft a cylindrical coin receiver, c, Figs. 7 and8, is attached which rotates in a casing, f, disposed on the frontplate, the end' of the receiver being suitably formed for attaching theoperating handle, g, thereto.

In the cylindrical coin receiver a chamber, L, is formed into which thecoins discharged from the coin guide, t', Figs. l and 2, are. conducted,the external casing of the coin reeeiver being dispensed with inproximity to the coin guide so as to allow the coin to enter thereceiver and also for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

lVhen no coin has been introduced into the receiver the operating handlecan only be partially rotated as its xmovement is limited by a stop, onthe coin receiver shutting against stops, /if and L, on the t'rontplate, Figs. T and S. The stop, in the coin receiver is mounted on aspring, which forms the bottom of the chamber, f1, into which the coinis discharged from the coin guide, and is adapted to be prevented fromengaging with the fixed stop, 11:, when the coin is inserted and theoperating handle, (j, is rotated.

The above result is effected by tormii'ig'the aperture, m, in the casingat the coin guide of suliicient. size to accommodate theI coins used, atthe initial position of the coin receiver, e., when the stop, j, ahutsagainst. the stop, 7e, and the chamber L, in the coin receiver registerswith the coin guide, i, while for the part. of the revolution ot thereceiver corresponding to the amount ot' movement ot the coin shaftbetween the stops, c and 7e, the. aperture in the casingis diminished inwidth as shown in Fig. 2so that the coin may project i'roinithereceiver. The restricted width ot the aperture acts to retain coins ot'the correct size while allowing smaller ones to tall out, therebyYpreventing disarrangement as the receiver and coinshaiit are rotated onthe n'lanipulation of the operating handle. When the coin receiver intowhich a coin has been introduced has arrived at the position where theengagement ot the stops hereinl'ielore reiierred to is effected the partot' the coin which projects fromthe receiver comes into contact with aprojection, a, Figs. l and T, formed on the stationary casing, therebycausing the coin to be forced against the spring, Z, which forms thebottom ot the Divided and this application filed .Tune 21,

coin chamber and preventing the engage'- ment of the,k stops, j and c.On continuing the rotation of the operating handle, the switch for thecurrent is closet in a manner to be hereinafter described while thecoin' on coming opposite a second opening, 0, in the casing isdischarged into the coin receptacle, further rotation of the coin shaftbeing prevented on the rengagement of the stops, j and It will thus beunderstood that the insertion of a coin in the coin guide allows acomplete revolution of thev coin shaft to be effected on themanipulation of the operating handle. v

A shaft, p, carrying differential gearing, g, Figs 2 and 6, is rotatablymounted on the same frame as the coin shaft, the differ ential gearpreferably consisting of a member, r, rigidly attached to the shaft, p,and

carrying a pinion, S, which engages with crown wheels, t and u, disposedon either side or the sleeve and forming the other members of thedifferential train. rllhe shaft on which the differential gear ismounted, carries a pointer, /u for indicating the amount of currentprepaid. The sleeve just mentioned also carries an adjustably weightedlever, fw, and a stop, w, Figs. 2, 3, i and 5,

' the lever assisting the stop to free the switch mechanism when theamount of current pre-.

paid has passed through the meter. spur Wheel, y, i's rigidly attachedto the crown wheel, u, in the dilferential train and is connectedthrough suitable gearing, z, with the meter spindle, l, Fig. l,estar-wheel, 2, being attached to the crown wheel, t, and engaging witha single tooth, 3, formed on the coin shaft, a, so that for everyrevolution of the coin shaft the star-wheel is rotated through thedistance of one tooth. A spring-mounted pawl, t, Fig. 3, also engageswith the star-wheel'so as to retain it in any given position while atthe same time permitting of its 'rotation when required.

The switch which may preferably be of the knife type consists of astationary member, 5, Figs. l, 3 i and 5, fixed to the structurecarrying the meter and prepayment mechanism and a knife member, 5,rotatably mounted on a shaft, 7, on the frame which carries the shaft ofthe coin mechanism and the differential gearing. The switch is retainedin the open position by means of a coil or other spring, 8,. attached tothe knife member, one of the sides of which is shaped as shown so as toform a projection, 35, which abuts against a stop, 34, when the switchis in the o )en position; the other side 'of the knife member is shapedso-as to form a cam surface, 32, and operates in a manner -to bedescribed hereafter.

I mounted on a swinging member, il, mounted cdaxially with the knifemember. A pinion, l2, and cam, 125, are mounted on the shaft., T, whichforms the axis of the knife and swinging members, the pinion, 12, beingin gear with a train of wheels, lil, mounted on the swinging member, ll,the last wheel, 29, of which train is rotatably mounted on the sameshaft, as the detent wheel, l0, which engages with the tooth orprojection, 9, on the knife member before mentioned, while the cam, 13,is provided with a projection, l5, which engages with a trip finger, 1G,rotatably mounted on the swinging member and normally kept in contactwith the cam by means of a spring, 1T.

The detent wheel, l0, is connected tothe wheel, 29, vof the train bymeans of a ratchet wheel, 30, fixed to the wheel, 1C', and a pawl, 3l,fixed to the wheel, 29, in such a manner that the rotation of the detent`wheel, l0, relatively to the wheel, 29, can only take place in onedirection.

AThe detent wheel, l0, is limited in its motion in one direction by thespring, 18, at-

tached to the swinging member, ll, and in the other direction by meansof a stop, 19, also fixed to the member, l1, and against which a tooth,20, on the detent wheel abuis. A stop, 2l, is disposed in a suitableposition for limiting the motion of the swinging member, ll, which iskept pressed thereagainst by means of a spring, 22, fixed to the frameso that any motion of theswinging member takes place against the ten-ysion therein. It will thus be evident that by interposing atrain ofgearing between the tinge 1G, and the detent wheel, l0, a very slightforce is suilicient to release 4the finger, 1G, and allow the spring,22, to free the knife member of the switch.

ln the upper extremity of the swinging member a lever arm, 23, Fig. 5,carrying a pin, 2s, is pivotally mounted, the motion of I the aigu beinglimited by a stop, 36. This pin, 2l, when the switch is on open circuitlies in the path of a cam, 25, rigidly fixed to the coin shaft, a, butwhen the'` switch is pnt on closed circuit a second pivotally mountedlever, 2G, rotatably mounted on the frame and operated by the camsurface, 32,' Fig. 3, on the knife member causes the pin, 24, to belifted clear of the cam Q5, on the coin shaft, and allowsY th'e coinshaft to be rotated when the switch is closed. 'ln order to prevent themanipulationl o the operating handle after the full amount has beenprepaid which is permissible at A,any one time, the stop, a?, Figs. 3.,and 5,

on the sleeve of the differential train engages with a pin, 3T, on thelever, 2T, pivlframe. Thus'the meter and prepaymenttrainwork have noundue pressure to bear, and the meter record is not impaired.

Recording mechanism, 33, Fig. 1, ot any ,known type for indicating theamount of current prepaid cooperates with the rotation of the coinshaft. y

The prepayment mechanism is preferably' mounted on the structurecarrying the meter in order to arrange the device in as compact a manneras possible.

The operation of the device is as follows z-0n the insertion of a coinin the coin guide, z', the operating handle, g, is rotated through acomplete revolution during which the cam, 25, on the coin shaft causesthe swinging member, l1, to 'move forward and effect the engagement ofthe detent wheel, 10, thereon with the projection, 9, on the knifemember, 6. llVh-en the detent wheel, 10, intermeshes with theprojection, 9, the knife member, 6, and the swinging member, 11, arelocked together as the detent wheel, 10, is prevented from rotatingindependently of the wheel, 18, by the pawl 3l, while the wheel 18,itself being in gear with the train 14, is prevented from rotating inthe opposite direction by the engagement of the tinger 1G, with theprojection, 15, on the cam wheel, 13. Both members being thus lockedtogether the tension on the sprintf, 22, causes the members 5 and (3, toengage and the switch to be closed. During' this operation the tooth, onthe coin shaft has moved the star-wheel, Q, through the distance of onetooth and allowed the trip tinger 1G, on the swinging member, 11, toengage with the projccifon, l5, on the cam, IIS, thereby preventing theopening of the switch.' On insertingmore coins in order to prepay thei'ull amount of current permissible at one time the star.-\\'heel, il,on the differential train is rotated one tooth for every revolution ofthe coin shaft until the stop mot-ion hereinbefore described comes intooperation to prevent. further rotation` The meter mechanism which startsrecord ing when the switch is closed is geared to the member', t, of theditlerential train and by its rotation causes the sleeve, yr, ot thedifferential train to rotate in the reverse direction to that abovedescribed until the amount ot current prepaid has passed through themeter when the stop on the sleeve comes in contact with the trip linger,,f

It.will be evident that by interposing a train of gearing between thecam, 1?), on the axle of the swing member and the tooth, E), on theknife member. the pressure required to release the switch or hold it inthe closed position is reduced to a minimum while the construction ot'the coin receiver and the mechanism coopera-ting therewith is such as toprovide an exceedingly compact and efficient coin-freed prepaymentmechanism.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to anelectricity meter it is not to be regarded limited to such applicationas itl can he applied to other devices operated by coin freed mechanismwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. In combination, means for controlling thesupply of current, means for holding said controlling means in theoperative position together with a train of gearing coacting with saidholding means for reducing the force required to hold said controllingmeans in the operative position or release it therefrom.

2, In combination, a movable switch meniber, a stationary switch member,a swinging member coacting with said movable switch member, means forcausing said movable switch and said swinging members to engage and whenengaged, to cause said movg able switch member to contact with saidstationary switch member, together with means eoacting with saidengaging means for reducing the force required to hold said switchmembers in the engaged position or release them therefrom.

3. In combination, a movable switch member, a stationary switch member,a swinging member coacting with said movable switch Vmember, togetherwith means including a train of gearing carried by said swinging memberfor causing said movable switch and said swinging members to engage withone another, and in the engaged position to cause said movable switchmember to contact with said stationary switch member.

4. In combination, a stationary switch member, a movable switch memberhaving a projecting tooth disposed thereon, a swinging member carrying atrain of gearing including a detent wheel and resiliently mounted camcoaxialiyy mounted with said movable switch member, withdrawable meansfor preventing rotation of said cam in a certain direction, means forcausing said detent wheel to engage with said projecting' tooth and saidswitch members to contact, together with means tor actnatil'lg said\\'itlulra\\'ablc meansl l'or disengaging said switch inemliers.

In combination means for controlling the supply of current, means forholding said Controlling menne in the operative po- Sition.I a train 0fgearing co-zlcting witlr Said holding` means for rednoii'ig` the, powerrequired to hold the said ffonlrollingmeans in the Operative poSition,logt-liner willi nienns for preventing the operation of the controllinginezins in certain cironinslmices.

(5. In con'ihinntion nien'ns for conlrolling the supply ot current,means -for holding sind coi'itrolling` menne` in the operativo positionu train of Gein-inev co-aotinfr with maid .a .n e: n holding' niezlnstor reducnw the www ruo L" h l quired to` hold the said controllingmeans in i i r l l i l Vthe operative position, means for preventing forpreventing straining of the gearing when operation ot the Switch isattempted 1n said cn'cnnistzn'iees.

In testiniony whereof, a'flix my signa- 20 lure in presence of twowitnesses.

WTILLIAM HAMILTON.

fitnessen llnxonn SIMPsoN Mosnnny, MAM-min Snln'innns'r.

